Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-11-21
HONESTY IN SAN FRANoIsCo

After the Vigilance Committee Had
Cleared the way.
From Hubert h. Bancroft's Popular Tribunals."I
The problem of efficient municipal gov
ernment was solved by the great San Fran
cisco vigilance committee. After they had
wrested the city from the control of ballot
box suffers and eorruptionists generally a
different class OF men filed the Offices.
Henry P. Coon, an elder of Calvary church
and man of moral presence and of the
highest integrity and respectability, was
made Judge of the police court, and in this
position became famous for dealing out strict
and impartial justice. Like many others,
Mr. Coon had sympathized with the vigilance
committee, but had never been member of
that organization. Though cautious, too ex-
cessively 80 ever to have become reformer
where the risk was anything like that in
Cured by members of the vigilance commit
tee, vet supported by the community, and
sure of personal and pecuniary safety, as
well as social standing, he could castigate
vice soundly He did most excellent service
in this position, and was reelected till forced
to decline the position further. He likewise
did well as police commissioner In connea-
ton with his two associates he selected from
thousand applicants of all grades new
police force, and what was more difficult kept
mn the moral tone and efficiency of the force
afterward. The jealous and sagacious Coon
made these fat guardians Of the city bestir
themselves, and under this reform admins
tration evil-doers knew that almost to GER
tainty their crimes would be detected and
punished.
When the new officers came into power the
not 0Y11U hQ IN ErrT1Tl hT1f,
scrip had been issued anticipating the reve-
nue. for months to come The new city char
ter was extremely rigid in its provisions as
to salaries snd expenditures, and permitted
the contracting of no debts for running ex-
penses. The police judge was obliged for
time to furnish his stationery at his own ex-
pense The police docket became filed, and
the Judge notified the board of supervisors
that new one was required. But this body
| decided that under the law the book could
not be bought, as there was no public money
| under control of the board. Finally, how
ever member of the board arose and said
that a court doing its work SO well must not
be left without docket, and that he would
| furnish one himself. And sure enough, the
court was scarcely opened next morning
when the gigantic form of the supervisor was
seen entering the door, bearing massive
record book in his arms, his big, broad face
| beaming with satisfaction as he deposited it
| on the clerks desk.
In truth, SO narrowly were abuses watched
under the new regime that peculation in Of
fee went out of fashion. Men positively
prided themselves on being honest, efficient,
faithful in conducting the business imposed
on them by their fellow-citizens, with as
| strict regard to economy and success as they
would employ in conducting their own pri-
vate affairs. The gas company ran up enor-
nous bills against the city, and protested, as
| usual in such cases, that they could take no
less. Thereupon the new officials turned off
the gas, and each supervisor, judge or other
officer brought his tallow-dip and workel
under its dim but honest flicker. When
judges suggested stoves to warm their rooms
the city fathers pointed to the beauty of the
California climate, which SO favored an i'm
poverished city treasury as to render the ex-
pense of fuel unnecessary.
The first president of the board of super
visors elected under the consolidation act de-
! served much credit for his unwearied energy
in providing ways for supporting the impe~
cunious government It was finally deter
mined to lay a temporary tax on trades and
occupations; this burden was cheerfully
borne by the people in order to bridge over
the pressing financial emergency. Within
year the former signs of desolation in mu-
nicipal affairs began to disappear. The
city's credit was restored and money began
| to accumulate in the treasury.